Attention MBPA Feeder Sale consignors, buyers, Association members, and others with an interest,

 

The next MBPA Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7, 6:30 pm at the Deering Bldg. in Augusta.  As this is the first time the Board has met since the NELE Spring Sale, and thoughts turn to preparing for the Fall Sale in Richmond, it's a good time to review the past, present, and future of our MBPA-sponsored Feeder Sales both to try to improve each time, as well as consider alternatives.  This important topic will be just part of a full meeting agenda, and as always, the meetings are open and suggestions appreciated.  Please consider this invitation to come and participate.

Thank you in advance,

 

Kevin Woltemath

Grass fed beef production in Michigan is a growing industry. For many years small producers have been selling and marketing grass fed beef but there were very few places for them to obtain research based information on the practice. Thanks to Jason Rowntree and his Michigan State University ( MSU) team of Doug Carmichael, Jerry Lindquist, and Kable Thurlow information on grass fed beef production is now available at MSU.

The MSU team have analyzed the many aspects of grass feeding and finishing beef without grains including: production systems, cattle nutrition, cattle genetics, grazing methods, immature corn as pasture, carcass and meat qualities, economics, and consumer preferences to name just a few. The team has also worked on a sustainable farm grant (North Central SARE) with 17 farms in northwest Michigan to help these farms establish a system for grass fed beef production.

Through four years of training these farms have evolved to the point where seven are now producing grass-fed beef. These farms in conjunction with the MSU Farms have now produced over 250 head of finished cattle that were supplied to the grass-fed market. Carcass quality and yield measurements have been taken on the majority of the cattle produced. This data is still being compiled, but in general the average carcass grade of the cattle has been USDA High Select and the average carcass yield at 19 - 21 months of age has been 53 -54 percent. Price premiums of 25 percent above the general cattle market prices have been received for the hanging carcasses.

Source: Thurlow, K. and J. Lindquist, Michigan Grass Fed Beef Production Update, February 2016.

Corn Stover Can Provide Inexpensive Feed to Beef Cows

Corn stover (after ear corn has been harvested) can provide a low cost feed source for mid-gestation beef cows. The energy in a cornfield is half in the grain and half in the stover or plant material. Once the crop is harvested, half the feed energy remains in the field. The cows can enjoy an additional benefit by gleaning the kernels and small cobs that passed through the combine.

Most fields will provide between one and two months of grazing per cow per acre (50 cows on 50 acres for one to two months). However, cows should be monitored closely and body condition scores recorded, so that necessary supplementation can take place when required.

The feed value of the stalks will drop from harvest date, so the earlier in the season you can graze, the better. Initially the Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) value could be as high as 70 percent, but as the winter progresses this value will drop down into the 40 percent range. This decline is partly due to the weathering of the leaves and stalks and partly due to the cows eating high-value grain and leaves early in the grazing, leaving lower-value stalk material for later grazing.

Check the field for available grain - both kernels on the ground and small cobs missed by the combine. If there is a significant quantity, you may need to limit access so that the cows don't overload on grain. Use temporary electric fence to strip-graze the field or restrict the grazing time to a few hours during the day.

Ensure that salt and mineral is freely available at all times. Provide an accessible source of water, since cows will consume about 10 gallons of water per head per day, under cool conditions. Later in the season, lean fluffy snow can serve as an optional source of water.

Soil condition is also an important consideration for grazing corn stover. If the ground is wet, there will be some pugging and roughening of the soil surface. In a no-till cropping system, you might consider waiting until the ground is frozen or selecting the driest fields with a low clay content to graze.
In Maine Aroostook, Kennebec, Somerset and York counties have sizable acreages of  corn grown for grain according to the 2012 Ag Census. Fields where silage corn has been harvested do not have enough crop residue to pasture beef cows.
Source: Beef: Kyle, J.,  Turn Corn Stover into Low Cost Pasture, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 2012.

Selling to the University of Maine

Central Maine Meats is committed to enhancing the viability of the Maine farming community. "We want to make the process of bringing products to market as simple as possible, as well as cost effective," according to Joel D Davis, Managing Partner.   "Just schedule a time to drop off your animals at our facility and we'll do the rest," commented Davis. "Best of all we are a USDA processing facility. That means you can sell or ship your product processed in Gardiner to anywhere in United States."

We also buy animals at the current weekly USDA reported auction prices, providing a significant transportation savings.

For example follow this link  and click on "New Holland, PA" to see current pricing:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/slaughter-cattle-auctions#Pennsylvania

We offer both traditional and advanced cuts and processing from Primal Cuts to Steaks, Sausages and Hamburg. All products (pork, beef, lamb) are cut, processed, vacuum packed and boxed to your specifications. We also offer flash freeze technology for all products, and advanced value added production such as smoking and drying meats. We have received our Animal Welfare approved processor following Temple Grondin protocols. 
We are a USDA approved slaughter and processing facility.

Discounts and Premiums Paid for Steer Carcasses by Characteristic

A colleague of mine Eldon Cole from Missouri  Extension recently included discounts and premiums paid for the steer carcasses at a slaughter plant for two processing dates in the spring of 2016. While Maine does not have the services of a carcass grader within the state of Maine, this chart shows some of the characteristics that can fetch a higher price. 

Carcass traits like marbling are highly heritable so if you are aiming for Prime or Premium Choice, Yield Grade 1 and 2 carcasses, do your genetic homework. Stacking your pedigrees with animals with favorable EPD's is important. But don't forget growth and maternal traits as you still sell pounds.
 University of Missouri Extension, June 2016.